Extremely low energy 3-4 hours after eating
AnzhelaZ
Posts: 7 Member
Hello everyone!
I've been a mfp member for a while, diligently tracking for years and also using a tracker to estimate my average calories burned for the day/week.
Issue: regardless of whether I'm at a deficit, maintenance, eating 100+g of protein/day, about 3-4 hours after eating (sometimes less, especially after breakfast) I feel dizzy and lightheaded, definitely unable to work out or getting tired of walking even 2-4k steps. This has... been going on since about puberty (and that was a decade ago).
When I shared this with my GP years ago, their suggestion was this is due to low blood pressure (usually 115/75) and "just eat a candy every time it happens and you'll feel better". This works indeed, but is not quite sustainable and - you guessed- the candy only helps for so long. Eating something healthy on the other hand means I'm constantly eating before I've gotten hungry and I feel stuffed all the time. Not to mention I don't want to affect my intake for adequate nutrition by snacking on sweets.
Status: I'm aiming to get to less than 20% body fat or to BMI 19-ish. Currently I'm 49-50 kg, 157 cm.
Average daily burn 1850 kcal, working out with Fitbit coach ~4-5 days a week, due to quarantine steps are down to about 5-6k a day.
Intake: deficit; 1450-1550 kcal with a weekly binge (unintentional) of about 1900-2000 kcal.
The same energy issue was at hand the same way when I had a 10kg higher weight.
Not glucose intolerant, TSH/FSH in norm, PCOS (which could be the cause, but would really like to work around it and not give up).
The issue I'm having is not a new one, but I would like to ask for your advice on something you've come across/experienced yourself or a guideline on alternatives to what I've tried. As it's affecting my quality of life, I'd be happy for your feedback on how to deal with it and end it for good.
Thank you!
I've been a mfp member for a while, diligently tracking for years and also using a tracker to estimate my average calories burned for the day/week.
Issue: regardless of whether I'm at a deficit, maintenance, eating 100+g of protein/day, about 3-4 hours after eating (sometimes less, especially after breakfast) I feel dizzy and lightheaded, definitely unable to work out or getting tired of walking even 2-4k steps. This has... been going on since about puberty (and that was a decade ago).
When I shared this with my GP years ago, their suggestion was this is due to low blood pressure (usually 115/75) and "just eat a candy every time it happens and you'll feel better". This works indeed, but is not quite sustainable and - you guessed- the candy only helps for so long. Eating something healthy on the other hand means I'm constantly eating before I've gotten hungry and I feel stuffed all the time. Not to mention I don't want to affect my intake for adequate nutrition by snacking on sweets.
Status: I'm aiming to get to less than 20% body fat or to BMI 19-ish. Currently I'm 49-50 kg, 157 cm.
Average daily burn 1850 kcal, working out with Fitbit coach ~4-5 days a week, due to quarantine steps are down to about 5-6k a day.
Intake: deficit; 1450-1550 kcal with a weekly binge (unintentional) of about 1900-2000 kcal.
The same energy issue was at hand the same way when I had a 10kg higher weight.
Not glucose intolerant, TSH/FSH in norm, PCOS (which could be the cause, but would really like to work around it and not give up).
The issue I'm having is not a new one, but I would like to ask for your advice on something you've come across/experienced yourself or a guideline on alternatives to what I've tried. As it's affecting my quality of life, I'd be happy for your feedback on how to deal with it and end it for good.
Thank you!
0
Replies
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my blood pressure is in the same range and I don't have that issue.
id maybe consult with a different physician.
and I don't see how a candy would help with blood pressure? it would cause a spike in blood SUGAR, but I'm not so sure it would help with pressure. but I don't know.
id definitely consult with a different doc. I don't know a whole lot about PCOS but maybe see a doc who is experienced in treating the symptoms affiliated with that.3 -
Have you considered simply eating smaller meals more often? My "symptoms" are slightly different than yours and I definitely get hungry instead of dizzy, but also super tired and unable to work out unless I eat every 3-4 hours. My blood pressure is on the higher end. This is such a well-known feature of my being that my husband knows to plan our trips around the fact that I need to eat every 3-4 hours, and friends laugh about my "feeding schedule". I have never even thought about it as a problem since it's hunger and not dizziness, but I simply eat more often. Hope you find a solution that suits your needs!5
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If it were me in this situation, I'd expand my healthcare team to include a nutritionist and at least a series of consultations with an endocrinologist (like over the course of a year). A second opinion from a GP, as @callsitlikeiseeit mentioned is also a good idea.
In the meantime, looking at WHAT you eat and WHEN may be helpful (is that what you're suggesting @hipari ?).
If you're logging as well as leveraging the Notes feature in your food diary, perhaps you could spot some trends. Mind you, a good nutritionist would be willing and able to review your MFP logs and may be able to pinpoint strategic areas to work on faster than you'd find them on your own.4 -
Have you considered simply eating smaller meals more often? My "symptoms" are slightly different than yours and I definitely get hungry instead of dizzy, but also super tired and unable to work out unless I eat every 3-4 hours. My blood pressure is on the higher end. This is such a well-known feature of my being that my husband knows to plan our trips around the fact that I need to eat every 3-4 hours, and friends laugh about my "feeding schedule". I have never even thought about it as a problem since it's hunger and not dizziness, but I simply eat more often. Hope you find a solution that suits your needs!
Dear Hipari, thank you for sharing your situation! Yes, I tried the "feeding schedule" and it works - but is very inconvenient for when I want to go out, have a meeting at work or anything that disturbs the schedule by even a bit - it'd be great to find a permanent solution and maybe even become one of those people who "forget to eat" at lunch 😁0 -
Thank you so much for your response! I'll try speaking with a nutritionist and add a consultation with an endocrinologist. The "what" doesn't seem bad, but someone else could give a different perspective especially based on their background.If it were me in this situation, I'd expand my healthcare team to include a nutritionist and at least a series of consultations with an endocrinologist (like over the course of a year). A second opinion from a GP, as @callsitlikeiseeit mentioned is also a good idea.
In the meantime, looking at WHAT you eat and WHEN may be helpful (is that what you're suggesting @hipari ?).
If you're logging as well as leveraging the Notes feature in your food diary, perhaps you could spot some trends. Mind you, a good nutritionist would be willing and able to review your MFP logs and may be able to pinpoint strategic areas to work on faster than you'd find them on your own.
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callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »my blood pressure is in the same range and I don't have that issue.
id maybe consult with a different physician.
and I don't see how a candy would help with blood pressure? it would cause a spike in blood SUGAR, but I'm not so sure it would help with pressure. but I don't know.
id definitely consult with a different doc. I don't know a whole lot about PCOS but maybe see a doc who is experienced in treating the symptoms affiliated with that.
Thank you a lot! I'll try consultating a different physician. Yes, what you said about blood sugar makes sense to me and the way I see it it's indeed blood sugar falling, not the pressure.1 -
It sound amore to me like you could be hypoglycemic, not low blood pressure. I don't know much about it but have a good friend whose had it since her early 20's.3
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Hello everyone!
I've been a mfp member for a while, diligently tracking for years and also using a tracker to estimate my average calories burned for the day/week.
Issue: regardless of whether I'm at a deficit, maintenance, eating 100+g of protein/day, about 3-4 hours after eating (sometimes less, especially after breakfast) I feel dizzy and lightheaded, definitely unable to work out or getting tired of walking even 2-4k steps. This has... been going on since about puberty (and that was a decade ago).
When I shared this with my GP years ago, their suggestion was this is due to low blood pressure (usually 115/75) and "just eat a candy every time it happens and you'll feel better". This works indeed, but is not quite sustainable and - you guessed- the candy only helps for so long. Eating something healthy on the other hand means I'm constantly eating before I've gotten hungry and I feel stuffed all the time. Not to mention I don't want to affect my intake for adequate nutrition by snacking on sweets.
Status: I'm aiming to get to less than 20% body fat or to BMI 19-ish. Currently I'm 49-50 kg, 157 cm.
Average daily burn 1850 kcal, working out with Fitbit coach ~4-5 days a week, due to quarantine steps are down to about 5-6k a day.
Intake: deficit; 1450-1550 kcal with a weekly binge (unintentional) of about 1900-2000 kcal.
The same energy issue was at hand the same way when I had a 10kg higher weight.
Not glucose intolerant, TSH/FSH in norm, PCOS (which could be the cause, but would really like to work around it and not give up).
The issue I'm having is not a new one, but I would like to ask for your advice on something you've come across/experienced yourself or a guideline on alternatives to what I've tried. As it's affecting my quality of life, I'd be happy for your feedback on how to deal with it and end it for good.
Thank you!
It's likely something you're eating, so I agree with the recommendation to get another doctor and a referral to a registered dietitian.
I've recently discovered that cereals fortified with iron make me feel dizzy. I'm anemic and rely on supplements and foods naturally high in iron, but I do check labels out of curiosity. Wheaties have 70% and Grape Nuts have 90% RDA of iron - the vast majority of this was added in, and whatever cheapass form of iron they are using makes me dizzy.
The Wheaties are my OH's and the Grape Nuts are my brother's so I have switched to non-stupidly fortified cereal.1 -
I eat six small meals a day routinely.. if not. I'd feel the same way. Try it.. it is fun.. and you're always eating. I eat 2-3 ounces of a protein ...all the vegetables I want..and a 1/2 cup of complex carb or low sugar fruit like grapefruit or berries. I eat every 3 hours. .and if I"m hungry.. I'll eat at the 2.5 mark.4
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You sound exactly like my mom. She has to eat every few hours or she feels the same way and gets shaky. She's been like this her whole life. Some people feel better eating something small every few hours.4
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This is really a medical question that can't get a very adequate response here, I think. But, it is possible to track your blood sugar levels yourself over the course of the day if you want to invest in a glucose meter.3
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Are you sure your doctor didn't say low blood sugar and not low blood pressure? This does sound like hypoglycemia and that is exactly what the candy would help with.
I can get really tired after eating (usually within the hour though) and I try to limit my carbs for this reason.3 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Hello everyone!
I've been a mfp member for a while, diligently tracking for years and also using a tracker to estimate my average calories burned for the day/week.
Issue: regardless of whether I'm at a deficit, maintenance, eating 100+g of protein/day, about 3-4 hours after eating (sometimes less, especially after breakfast) I feel dizzy and lightheaded, definitely unable to work out or getting tired of walking even 2-4k steps. This has... been going on since about puberty (and that was a decade ago).
When I shared this with my GP years ago, their suggestion was this is due to low blood pressure (usually 115/75) and "just eat a candy every time it happens and you'll feel better". This works indeed, but is not quite sustainable and - you guessed- the candy only helps for so long. Eating something healthy on the other hand means I'm constantly eating before I've gotten hungry and I feel stuffed all the time. Not to mention I don't want to affect my intake for adequate nutrition by snacking on sweets.
Status: I'm aiming to get to less than 20% body fat or to BMI 19-ish. Currently I'm 49-50 kg, 157 cm.
Average daily burn 1850 kcal, working out with Fitbit coach ~4-5 days a week, due to quarantine steps are down to about 5-6k a day.
Intake: deficit; 1450-1550 kcal with a weekly binge (unintentional) of about 1900-2000 kcal.
The same energy issue was at hand the same way when I had a 10kg higher weight.
Not glucose intolerant, TSH/FSH in norm, PCOS (which could be the cause, but would really like to work around it and not give up).
The issue I'm having is not a new one, but I would like to ask for your advice on something you've come across/experienced yourself or a guideline on alternatives to what I've tried. As it's affecting my quality of life, I'd be happy for your feedback on how to deal with it and end it for good.
Thank you!
It's likely something you're eating, so I agree with the recommendation to get another doctor and a referral to a registered dietitian.
I've recently discovered that cereals fortified with iron make me feel dizzy. I'm anemic and rely on supplements and foods naturally high in iron, but I do check labels out of curiosity. Wheaties have 70% and Grape Nuts have 90% RDA of iron - the vast majority of this was added in, and whatever cheapass form of iron they are using makes me dizzy.
The Wheaties are my OH's and the Grape Nuts are my brother's so I have switched to non-stupidly fortified cereal.
Thank you for the idea! It's probably nit specifically iron, as none of the foods I eat claim to be fortified and now that I checked, mfp says I don't get more than 15% of the daily norm. Not sure if it's accurate, as many foods only have macros and calories entered, but it's worth checking. Hopefully once I get a consultation, it'll be resolved
1
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